A four-year-old boy has died after being attacked by a dog.
The incident happened at a house in Wavertree, Liverpool, in the early hours of this morning.
The child, named locally as John-Paul Massey, suffered serious injuries and died at the scene.
A 63-year-old woman, who is believed to have been injured as she separated the dog from the child, was taken to hospital for treatment.
Dog handlers and armed response officers arrived at the house on Ash Grove to find the "agitated" dog in the front garden.
Chief Superintendent Steve Ashley said the dog had to be "destroyed".
"When officers arrived at the address the dog was in an agitated state in the front garden of the property and was deemed to be a danger to the public," he said.
"As a result we were left with no other option but to have the animal destroyed quickly and humanely."
A neighbour, who heard what she thinks was the dog being shot, said dangerous dogs are a problem in the area.
Gillian Watson, 46, said: "I heard a gunshot at about 2am this morning and I presume that was when they put the dog down.
"It's such a terrible thing to happen to a family.
"There are lots of dangerous types of dog around here. You always see young lads with pit bull dogs roaming around.
"I have a dog myself and when I take him for a walk sometimes it's quite terrifying because you think your dog is going to be attacked."
A number of residents have complained to the local housing association about the problem of dogs, according to another neighbour who did not want to be named.
"About 12 months ago one of them tore a pet cat to pieces in the middle of the street," he said.
"You see them all the time, they're huge animals and it is very threatening."
Police are now trying to identify the type of dog involved and have launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the boy's death.
John-Paul Massey Killed In Liverpool Dog Attack, Four-Year-Old Boy Lived On Ash Grove, Wavertree | UK News | Sky News
How many more times must a child be severely injured or mauled to death before these dangerous, pathetic, stupid dogs are banned and killed!?
The incident happened at a house in Wavertree, Liverpool, in the early hours of this morning.
The child, named locally as John-Paul Massey, suffered serious injuries and died at the scene.
A 63-year-old woman, who is believed to have been injured as she separated the dog from the child, was taken to hospital for treatment.
Dog handlers and armed response officers arrived at the house on Ash Grove to find the "agitated" dog in the front garden.
Chief Superintendent Steve Ashley said the dog had to be "destroyed".
"When officers arrived at the address the dog was in an agitated state in the front garden of the property and was deemed to be a danger to the public," he said.
"As a result we were left with no other option but to have the animal destroyed quickly and humanely."
A neighbour, who heard what she thinks was the dog being shot, said dangerous dogs are a problem in the area.
Gillian Watson, 46, said: "I heard a gunshot at about 2am this morning and I presume that was when they put the dog down.
"It's such a terrible thing to happen to a family.
"There are lots of dangerous types of dog around here. You always see young lads with pit bull dogs roaming around.
"I have a dog myself and when I take him for a walk sometimes it's quite terrifying because you think your dog is going to be attacked."
A number of residents have complained to the local housing association about the problem of dogs, according to another neighbour who did not want to be named.
"About 12 months ago one of them tore a pet cat to pieces in the middle of the street," he said.
"You see them all the time, they're huge animals and it is very threatening."
Police are now trying to identify the type of dog involved and have launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the boy's death.
John-Paul Massey Killed In Liverpool Dog Attack, Four-Year-Old Boy Lived On Ash Grove, Wavertree | UK News | Sky News
How many more times must a child be severely injured or mauled to death before these dangerous, pathetic, stupid dogs are banned and killed!?
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